What Is Your Name?
What Is Your Name?
In this week’s Parsha, we are reminded of the vital relationship between holiness and identity and evil and the lack of identity. Our forefather Yaakov faced challenges throughout his life, from a brother who sought to kill him to a deceitful father-in-law in the morally corrupt environment of Charan. Despite these hardships, Yaakov rose above the darkness, gaining strength and growth through his trials. He established the 12 Shevatim, the Tribes of Israel, and introduced the nighttime prayer, Maariv—a powerful reminder that we can always connect to Hashem, even in the darkest moments.
One of Yaakov’s most significant tests occurred when he wrestled through the night with an angel, a force representing evil. As dawn broke, Yaakov demanded, “What is your name?” The angel’s response, “I do not have a name.” This statement underscores the very nature of evil—it has no identity, no fixed purpose, and no truth. It shifts and morphs, existing only to harm and destroy. In stark contrast, goodness and holiness are constant, rooted in truth and a clear sense of purpose.
Jewish education is about imparting this clarity to our students. In a world filled with shifting values and uncertain identities, we strive to guide our children in discovering who they are. We give them the tools to embrace their unique purpose and stand proud and unwavering in their Jewish identity.
This strong foundation ensures that our students are prepared to face any challenge with confidence. Through their deep relationship with Hashem and Torah, we empower them to become proud bearers of goodness, standing firm in a world of uncertainty. They learn to hold fast to their values, bringing light and positivity into the world.
Good Shabbos!
Mrs Leah Sollish
Hearing the Child’s Cry
Once, after the Mitteler Rebbe did not hear that his child fell out of his crib because he was so busy learning, the Alter Rebbe explained that "even when we are steeped in Torah and Prayer, we still need to hear the cry of the child, to stop, and to comfort him.”
The Rebbe explained how this story teaches us about the importance of educating today’s children: “Lately there is an awakening in the youth who are “crying” and searching for Judaism. We must know that even if we are busy with loftier matters, priority is given to the need to help Yeshivos, which educate children in the true way of Torah and Mitzvos, so that they can enroll even more of these “crying” children - especially those who don’t even know that they need to cry - and to give them an education such that they can then “stop crying…“
And in a broader sense, in recent times the behavior of the world at large is like a ‘child that fell out of his crib,’ having veered from the straight and proper track. Each one of us can and must do our part to improve the situation… specifically by strengthening Chinuch."
SPELLING BEE
We are thrilled to share that our Spelling Bee was a tremendous success, and we couldn't be more proud of the students who participated. The words they studied were incredibly challenging, and it was impressive to see how well the contestants knew how to spell them.
As the competition drew closer to the final rounds, it became clear just how hard the students had worked. When we reached the last two contestants, the judges couldn’t seem to get them out! The contest went on longer than expected, with both spellers giving an incredible performance. Eventually, we had a winner, but not without a strong fight from the runner-up.
A special congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who supported this event and helped make it so memorable.
Boys Winners:
First Place: Dov Pawliger
Second Place: Yaakov New
Third Place: Yisorel Meir Edelson
Girls Winners:
First Place: Aderet Afrah
Second Place: Chaya Pawliger
Third Place: Chaya Raskin
“We Are” Campaign
Thanks to your unwavering support, enthusiasm, and dedication, we not only met our goal but surpassed —reaching an incredible $1.2 million!
This achievement reflects the strength of our community and the shared belief in our mission. Together, we’ve proven what can be accomplished when we come together with passion and purpose.
A heartfelt thank you to all the students and families who participated, made team pages, made phone calls, came to the call center, and joined us at the launch party. Your efforts in fundraising and donating have been invaluable, and your commitment made all the difference.
We are so excited to see the next stages of growth and development for the school, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.
Now its time to redeem your Points and the Rewards Shop, where families can redeem their points from the campaign for the coolest CMCA merch! The shop is now open at Chayamushkashop.com
New Trimester, New Electives
We are thrilled to announce our new lineup of electives for this trimester, featuring even more exciting opportunities for our students to explore their interests and talents. Our Wednesday electives are packed with engaging activities, including Sewing, STEM, Arts and Crafts, chess, coding, yoga and so much more!
These additions are designed to inspire creativity, foster hands-on learning, and provide students with unique experiences that expand their horizons. We can’t wait to see the amazing projects and ideas our students will bring to life in these fun and enriching classes.
MS Starts Homework Hall
We are excited to share our new implementation into our Middle School students day which is Homework Hall. This dedicated time and space for completing assignments, receiving guidance, and building productive study habits has proven to be incredibly beneficial.
Students are taking full advantage of this opportunity to stay on top of their work, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of their lessons. Homework Hall has not only improved academic performance but also boosted confidence and independence in managing their responsibilities.
Thank you for encouraging your children to participate and for supporting their growth. Together, we are helping them achieve success, one assignment at a time!
2nd Grade Chumash Party (Boys)
What a joyous occasion we celebrated with our 2nd-grade boys at the Chumash Party! This milestone event marked an incredible step in their learning journey as they received their very own Chumash, symbolizing their growth and dedication to Torah study.
In preparation for this momentous day, the boys worked hard and learned many foundational skills. They focused on their Chumash vocabulary, learned basic prefixes and suffixes, and began learning how to decode words and psukim. They also learned how to navigate the Chumash using gematria. The boys prepared beautiful and creative projects depicting the six
Thank you for joining us in making this event so special. Mazel Tov to our wonderful students on this significant accomplishment—we are so proud of them and look forward to watching them continue to soar in their Torah learning!
2nd Grade Chumash Party (Girls)
Our Chumash party for the 2nd grade girls was a beautiful and meaningful celebration! The morning was filled with excitement and pride as the girls y sang and danced on stage about how precious the Torah is and how proud they are to begin learning it. The girls were absolutely bursting with pride, and so were their parents and teachers in the audience, all sharing in the joy of this moment. Their enthusiasm and excitement were truly inspiring, and we are so proud of each of them.
Thank you to all the families who joined us in making this day so memorable. We look forward to continuing to support and watch our students grow in their Torah studies as they take the next steps on their educational journey.
IXL Assessments and Growth
Recently, we have been conducting the mid-year assessments using the IXL platform in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA). The results so far have been tremendously encouraging: 96% of our students have demonstrated measurable growth since the beginning of the year. This remarkable progress is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teachers, who prioritize academics and strive to create engaging, effective learning experiences.
Equally important, this growth reflects the students’ consistent effort, determination, and focus on their own learning journeys. We are filled with nachas as we see their achievements, knowing how much effort has gone into reaching these milestones.
We are deeply grateful for you and your support at home, which plays a vital role in their success. Together, we are fostering an environment where growth and learning thrive. Let’s continue to encourage and celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our amazing students as the year progresses!
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Kindergarten Visits
Next week, our kindergarteners will embark on an exciting adventure as part of our “Kinder Explorers” program! During their visits to first grade, they will have the opportunity to explore their new environment, ask questions, and experience what lies ahead in the next chapter of their educational journey. The students will be full of curiosity and enthusiasm as they participate in engaging activities and get a firsthand look at life in first grade. It will be wonderful to see their excitement and confidence grow as they imagine themselves stepping into this new role next year. YOU KNOW ANY KINDERGARTNERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!
Jewish Book Fair
We are excited to announce our upcoming Jewish Book Fair! This special event will be a wonderful opportunity for students and families to explore and order a wide variety of Jewish books, stories, and educational materials to enhance their home libraries. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to donate to the school and help continue building our school library.
The Responsive Classroom Approach, which all of our teachers have been implementing in the classrooms this year, addresses five Social & Emotional Competencies: Cooperation, Assertiveness, Responsibility, Empathy and Self Control.
This week we will focus on Responsibility. Responsive Classroom emphasizes helping students develop responsibility through intentional teaching of social-emotional skills, setting clear and realistic expectations, and providing opportunities for autonomy and accountability. In this framework, responsibility is nurtured by allowing students to make choices, solve problems, and experience logical consequences, fostering a sense of ownership and self-discipline that contributes to a positive classroom community.
Teaching Kids About Responsibility at Home
Using principles from the Responsive Classroom approach, parents can foster responsibility at home through consistent routines, clear expectations, and opportunities for independence.
Start by giving your child age-appropriate tasks: Tasks such as setting the Shabbos table or packing/unpacking their backpack. Remember to explain how their contribution helps the family.
Encourage ownership of their actions by using logical consequences: If your child forgets their homework, let them face the teacher’s response instead of rescuing them.
Set a predictable daily routine: For example, establish a routine where homework is done right after school, followed by a snack, playtime, and then dinner, so your child knows what to expect and develops a habit of managing their time responsibly.
Model responsibility in your actions: Admitting a mistake and following through on commitments, so they see these values in action. Imagine you raised your voice at your child during a stressful moment. You could model responsibility by saying, “I want to apologize for raising my voice earlier. That wasn’t the best way to handle my frustration. I’ll work on staying calm next time, and I hope you can forgive me.” By acknowledging your mistake and showing a commitment to improving and repairing the relationship, you demonstrate accountability and model how to take responsibility for your actions.
Celebrate their efforts with specific praise: “I appreciate how you helped your sister put on her shoes —it helped us get out of the house on time this morning!”
By providing support and accountability, you help your child build confidence in managing their responsibilities.
Pam Mason
Mazal Tov to our students and staff celebrating their birthday this month:
STUDENTS
Orli Afrah - 10 Kislev
Zelda Slavaticki - 16 Kislev
Aaron Zakon - 25 Kislev
Eli Lipskier - 1 Kislev
Aharon Moshe
Meyerowitz - 1 Kislev
Mendel Chazanow - 5 Kislev
Chana Groner - 17 Kislev
TEACHERS
Nechama Gray - 12/4
Shterny Adelman - 12/25
Mazal Tov to Mendel Chazanow on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah
Mazal Tov to Eliana Antopolsky on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah
Rabbi Chanina & Deby Freeman on the birth and
bris of their new baby Yoshiyahu Sholom Dov Ber
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